Preparing to Buy

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Below are some preparations you can make prior to contacting your Maricopa Real Estate Agent with your home buying needs. You can also contact us at any time and we can guide you through the entire process as well. The Maricopa Real Estate Company makes buying a home in Maricopa easy!

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Buying a Home Tips

• Click here to view our services.
• Get a copy of your credit report and correct any errors.
• Reduce your consumer debt - pay down credit card balances.
• Assemble a cash down payment.
• Determine how much you can afford to pay for a home.
• Decide how much you are willing to spend for a home (different from how much you can afford).
• Get familiar with basic mortgage terms.
• Shop for a mortgage loan on the Internet.
• Get pre-approved or at least pre-qualified for a mortgage loan.
• Investigate neighborhoods where you want to look for a house.
• Consider neighborhood school quality and crime rates.
• Select two or three neighborhoods that meet your requirements.
• Try a search on our website and view our featured homes.
• Get your Real Estate Agent's help in evaluating the asking price of homes you like.
• Contact us for more help and personal recommendations.

Before you start shopping for your property, it is a good idea to make some preparations.

Build Your Green File.

A green file contains all your important financial documents. You will need it to secure financing for your property. The typical green file should contain:

• Financial statements
• Bank accounts
• Investments
• Credit cards
• Auto loans
• Recent pay stubs
• Tax returns for two years
• Copies of leases for investment properties
• 401K statements, life insurance, stocks, bonds, and mutual account information.

Check Your Credit Rating.

Your credit score will have a huge impact on what type of property you can buy, and at what price. It is first recommended to check your credit rating with an experienced lending institution so that we can determine what you can afford. The lender will research your credit ratings from the three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. We will be happy to recommend experienced, knowledgeable lenders in the residential, construction, and commercial and investment real estate fields.

Be Careful With Your Finances.

Now is not a good time to make sudden career changes or large purchases. You want to approach your property purchase from a position of financial stability.